Sunday, March 29, 2015

Where to start...I have literally typed and erased for thirty minutes trying to figure out how to start this post. It has nothing to do with what I usually post on this blog and yet it has everything to do with Busy and The Beans. The mess in my head is begging for organization where organization, at least for now, is impossible. I realize that I make this sound grave, and in the grand scheme of things it is a blip. A non issue. Nothing, really. But in my mind right now, it's insane. Because all that I know, and more importantly, that my kids know, is about to change. They were born in Louisville and everything they know is either here or crazy close to here. I moved here with Super Dad after getting married almost 10 years ago and seriously could not love it more. And soon we will all have to adjust to what might as well be Oz. Because we are moving to Seattle. I didn't say China or Tim-Buck-Too. Just Seattle. But like I said, it might as well be Oz.

The paragraph above is what I wrote a few months ago when I first found out about the move. Since then I have had time to chew it up and ponder the taste of change...and I dare say that I like it. Change is never easy but if it did't exist, the world would be slightly repetitive and a little boring. And this family has never liked being bored. I am sad to leave "my people" and "my city," but I am confident that my friendships with my amazing people are strong enough to stand the test of time and distance... (and thank goodness for Facebook and FaceTime!) My kids are starting to accept and welcome the change as well. We won't go until school is out, but it still has been very difficult for Busy to adjust to it all mainly because, for her, the anticipation of things is way worse than the actual thing. She is excited about the aquarium and the water and the mountains. And I am excited that it's Seattle and not Tim-Buck-Too, although we would make the best of that, too. The amount of adventures that the city has to offer is pretty much endless and our family has always loved a great adventure! So now, months later with smiles on our faces, we welcome the change and look forward to Oz.

I decided to repost this recipe because it is our favorite snack/dessert when the weather is warm! It certainly doesn't have to be spring or summer to enjoy this treat, but that's when it tastes the best!! Let me start from the beginning...

A few years ago, my amazing in-laws gave me a Vitamix for my birthday. And I can't say enough about how much I love it!! We make smoothies, ice cream, soups and dips with it. It is truly my favorite appliance! Anyway, I decided I wanted one when we were at Costco one weekend when they were doing a demonstration with the Vitamix. The girl made this green ice cream that was so healthy and so easy! But the best part was that my kids actually went back for 3rds and 4ths! I honestly stood there with my mouth open (it had 3 whole cups of spinach and they loved it) and declared then and there that I had to have this wonderful machine. And when I got it for my birthday, green ice cream was the first thing I made :)

What You Need:

1/4 of a cup of HONEY or AGAVE

1 WHOLE LEMON with the ends cut off (yes, skin and all. This is why I use an organic lemon)

1/4 of an AVOCADO

1/2 of a BANANA

about 3 cups of SPINACH

about 2 cups of ice (add more if it's too runny once mixed)

I sometimes throw in some mini carrots or mix half and half spinach and kale, too

What To Do:

Put the ingredients in the Vitamix in the order listed.

Mix until blended into a creamy ice cream texture.

Eat up!!

If we end up with leftovers (which is rare) I put it in our popsicle molds and pop them in the freezer to eat later.

Although I am quite fond of my Vitamix and would recommend it to anyone, I am certain you make green ice cream in another similar blender type appliance, so please do! I promise you won't be disappointed. The best way to describe the taste in the hopes of enticing you, is to tell you it tastes a lot like that frozen lemonade you get at the fair. Delicious!!